Local Factsheet - Stratford on Avon

If you are based in the Coventry and Warwickshire area of the West Midlands, the CW Growth Hub has a wealth of support to help your business.

They offer specialist brokerage and signposting to a range of local support programmes, mentoring, workshops and events, start-up support and access to finance and funding for businesses that aspire to grow.

A dedicated Account Manager will guide businesses through the support available on key business areas such as planning and property advice, skills and training, innovation in creating new products, processes and services, international trade, procurement opportunities to tender for contracts and advice on becoming bid ready. There is also a directory to access supply chain opportunities for the area. Hub services are open to all business sectors, with referrals to partners where needed.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk/

Tel: 0300 060 3747

E-mail: support@cwgrowthhub.co.uk

Contact form: https://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk/contact-form

If you're seeking business support then Stratford-on-Avon District Council can provide some excellent resources. They offer information on business support in the area, a newsletter, business rates, licensing, and procurement guidance.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://www.stratford.gov.uk/business-investment/

General Tel: 01789 267 575

Business Rates Tel: 01789 260 993

E-mail: info@stratford-dc.gov.uk

A great resource of online business advice can be accessed from Warwickshire County Council. Information can be found for start up support, assistance with environmental issues, tourism advice, procurement information, commercial premises, ICT and planning.

Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards has an agreement with Citizens Advice to help obtain consumer or business advice

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/business

Tel: 01926 410 410 - General enquiries

Tel: 01926 412 709 - Economy & skills team

Tel: 03454 040 506 - Trading Standards business and consumer service provided by CAB

Tel: 01926 414 040 - Trading Standards for weights and measures, licensing and animal health enquiries only

E-mail: Business@warwickshire.gov.uk

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce deliver a business start-up programme across Warwickshire. It offers a programme of one-to-one business coaching and workshops to new businesses and residents looking to start a business.

Eligibility: Available for business that have been trading for less then 2 years, and for individuals looking to start a business.

Website: https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/business-support/business-start-up-warwickshire/

Aimed at businesses in their first 24 months of trading and individuals who have ambitions to start a business, this is a programme of one-to-one business coaching and workshops to provide the fundamental skills to start and grow a business.

Eligible businesses with have the opportunity to work with an experienced advisor can diagnose your business needs and support your business to adapt and grow. The 1:1 business support is tailored to the business need.

Support can be provided in topics such as:

- Business planning/diversifying  
- Identifying new markets
- Increase exporting potential
- Financial management
- Sales and Marketing
- Productivity and performance
- Bespoke grant searches
- Signposting to relevant organisations 

Eligibility: Available for businesses who have been trading for less than 24 months or individuals who are looking to start a business.

Website: https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/business-support/business-resilience-and-growth/

The programme supports tech-based and innovation-led/knowledge-based businesses that are located within Warwickshire.  If eligible the business ready team will assign business owners and senior teams with a Growth Adviser or a Specialist Mentor who can provide support on strategic areas including:

- Strategic and business project planning
- Strategic Marketing including market assessment, competitor analysis and viability evaluation, through to planning marketing delivery through a variety of media
- Access to finance with assistance in identifying funding routes and developing investment readiness.
- Supporting companies in identifying the skills needs in their business along with recruitment and retention strategies
- Help to connect companies to universities and other providers to access related specialist knowledge resources and expertise
- Workshops and skills development for business managers in business critical disciplines
- An Incubation Service for early launch stage/start-up companies

The Business Ready programme is part of the Business Growth Warwickshire programme, run by the business support team at the University of Warwick Science Park and supported by Warwickshire County Council and it’s five Districts and Borough Councils.

To express interest and find out about eligibility criteria, complete the online form.

Eligibility: Available for trading tech or Knowledge based SMEs in Warwickshire who are looking to grow.

Website: https://business-ready.co.uk/

Contact form: https://business-ready.co.uk/contact-us/

Tel: 024 7632 3121

Email: businessready@uwsp.co.uk

Business Support Programme for Warwickshire Manufacturing SMEs. 

Supporting SME manufacturing businesses in Warwickshire to grow by identifying, understanding and removing barriers to growth.

Warwickshire Manufacturing Growth Programme aims to support SME manufacturing businesses in understanding their short, medium and long term improvement goals, while helping them create obtainable outcomes such as improved productivity, competitiveness, sustainability, job creation or adopt new products or services through the use of digital adoption.

Some of the support available through the programme:

- Dedicated, experienced Manufacturing Growth Managers who will provide on-going support.
- A comprehensive business diagnostic tool specifically designed for manufacturers – GROWTHmapper.
- Identify opportunities and create plans for growth and improvement.
- Grant towards business support.
- Access to Manufacturing Workshops.
- Peer networks.
- Connect to wider support to maximise opportunities for growth.

Eligibility: Available for Manufacturing businesses in Warwickshire who have the ability and can demonstrate their growth potential.

Website: https://www.warwickshire-mgp.co.uk/

Project Warwickshire is a package of support for businesses in the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors, offering specialist one-to-one business coaching, workshops, and networking with larger businesses.

Eligibility: Available for businesses within the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors. A business support pre questionnaire is required to be completed to judge each businesses eligibility for support.

Website: https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/business-support/project-warwickshire/

Invest Warwickshire offers free support and advice for anyone relocating or expanding in Warwickshire, ensuring they are making an informed decision that will encourage the prosperity of the business. Information on commercial property, business development opportunities, key business sectors, events, funding and grants.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/invest-ourservices

Tel: 01926 412140

E-mail: invest@warwickshire.gov.uk

Are you looking to set up a social enterprise, community business or co-operative?

Coventry and Warwickshire Co-operative Development Agency (CWCDA) provides free business support for local people to create and sustain social enterprises. 

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: http://www.cwcda.co.uk/

Tel: 024 7663 3911

E-mail: info@cwcda.co.uk

The University of Warwick Science Park's Business Support Service provides services for innovation-led businesses ranging from start-up support to consultancy for established firms. The university is also offering a business readiness programme to businesses who are looking to grow under the Business Ready name.

They have also launched the Growth Plus Network for growing businesses who have accessed support from Business Ready.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: http://www.warwicksciencepark.co.uk/business-support

General Tel: 024 7632 3000

E-mail: more-info@uwsp.co.uk

Business Ready Tel: 024 7632 3121

E-mail: businessready@uwsp.co.uk

The Business and IP Centre (BIPC) at the Library of Birmingham offers a wide range of resources and information to businesses.

The library has an advice and planning service where advisors are available to support people who want to start, run and grow a business, develop a business idea, or need help with intellectual property issues.

Specialist resources include access to market research reports via the IBISWorld service, plus subscriptions to databases such as COBRA, Creditsafe, FAME and Kompass. Some services need the user to be a library member.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Business Services website: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/BIPC

Business events website: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/business-amp-learning-in-the-library-of-birmingham-15352353438 

Tel: 0121 303 6800

E-mail: BusinessandLearning@birmingham.gov.uk

Aston University provides a wide range of services to support business through start up and growth.

From funded programmes offering consultancy to solve business challenges, facilities and expertise to help you innovate and explore key areas like intellectual property, to supporting employers with developing their workforce and recruiting student and graduate talent, the team can work with organisations of all stages, sizes and sectors.  To reach out and express interest, complete the online enquiry form.

Eligibility: Available to all stages of business. Eligibility criteria for individual programmes can be found on the website.

Website: https://www.aston.ac.uk/business

The Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands is led by police officers and dedicated cyber talent to support and help protect small businesses, SMEs, supply chain businesses and third sector organisations against cybercrime. There is free membership to the Centre, which gives full access to a range of jargon-free resources, toolkits and guidance.  Different membership levels are available depending on organisational needs and a range of cyber resilience services such as cyber security training and testing services are also offered at a cost – more information can be found on the website. 

Eligibility: Available to all stages of business. 

Website: https://www.wmcrc.co.uk/

Online contact form: https://www.wmcrc.co.uk/contact-us

The Decarbonisation Net Zero Programme in affiliation with Business Energy Advice Service aims to support businesses in the West Midlands with their journey towards net zero and energy reduction.

Businesses can access information and advice including 1:1 guidance, workshops and webinars, support with understanding new regulations and a free energy assessment providing recommendations for energy reduction to lower business costs. 

Then after a business has undertaken an energy assessment there is the opportunity to apply for a grant of up to £100,000 (up to 50% of costs) towards energy-efficient lighting systems, improving heating and cooling or exploring renewable energy sources. 

For energy-intensive manufacturing businesses in the West Midlands who have high energy consumption and are struggling with rising costs, there is also the Business Energy Advice Service – Energy Intensive (BEAS EI).  It offers fully-funded, practical help from engineers and expert manufacturing practitioners to diagnose energy inefficiencies, find practical solutions to save money, and become more sustainable, plus the opportunity to apply for a grant up to £100,000.

Eligibility: Trading SMEs in the form of limited companies in the following areas: Birmingham, Sandwell, Dudley, Coventry, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. Please check online for further eligibility.

Website: https://www.businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk/business-support/decarbonisation-net-zero-programme/

Contact: Fill out the contact form here to register interest - https://www.businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk/net-zero/decarbonisation-net-zero-energy-audit-register/

A programme for manufacturing companies in the West Midlands. Made Smarter is designed to help accelerate growth through access to a range of support.

This includes advice from digital specialists with a fully funded assessment and digital roadmap for your business, help with your strategy to implement new technologies, leadership & management training, access to digital skills resources and workshops, support for technological innovations, plus up to 50% match-funding towards the purchase of hardware and software.

To find out more and make an enquiry, visit the website.

Eligibility: Manufacturing businesses that have begun trading who are looking to grow.

Website: https://www.madesmarter.uk/adoption/in-my-region/west-midlands/

Innovate UK Business Growth (was Innovate UK EDGE) is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s investment in the innovative businesses that drive economic growth. It provides intensive, specialist-led support to ambitious innovation-led businesses to help them grow and scale.

Each high-potential, innovative business is supported by a dedicated innovation & growth specialist local to them. The specialist will consider a business in the round and, working closely with its leadership, identify the most productive ways to accelerate its growth. This could be by working on the core business plan and value proposition or through exploiting innovation, accessing funding and finance, and/or expanding into new markets.

In particular, the specialists can help companies to develop an innovation-driven business plan; understand how to protect and create value from their intellectual property; develop a strategy to fund and finance their innovation, growth and be investment ready; connect to new partners for commercial, technology and R&D collaborations; and discover opportunities in overseas markets learning how to capitalise on them.

Innovate UK Business Growth  also offer the Scaleup Programme for enhanced support, the Global Incubator Programme and the Global Business Innovation Programme.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading (innovative businesses, looking to grow and scale their business in the UK market and internationally) with up to 500 employees (250 in Northern Ireland). It is not suitable for pre-starts, or for those businesses who have no ambition to grow through innovation or internationalisation.

Website: https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/business-growth/

Online Contact Form: https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/business-growth-contact/ 

Tel: 0300 123 3066  (National Gateway)

Looking to grow your business in the West Midlands region?

The West Midlands Growth Company aims to raise the profile of the West Midlands Combined Authority region in national and global markets, making it more attractive to investors. It seeks to create new jobs, expand existing businesses and attract new businesses and investment to the region.

Eligibility: Available for businesses trading over 24 months.

Website: https://wmgrowth.com/

Tel: 0121 202 5115

E-mail: info@wmgrowth.com

Do you need legal advice? Lawyers for your business is a scheme offering a free half-hour consultation with a member of the Law Society.

The lawyer will not be able to deal with existing legal issues but can help with general legal enquiries about starting a business, employing people, contracts with customers and suppliers, taking on leased premises, business structures, health and safety and raising finance. When contacting a solicitor for a 30-minute free consultation you must advise you are calling regarding the Lawyers for your business scheme and use the named contact on the sheet sent to you from the service.

Eligibility: Available for businesses trading up to 12 months including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/

Tel: 020 7320 5650 - If you need help with using the find a solicitor section, Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm

E-mail: lfyb@lawsociety.org.uk - please include postcode or town/city in the e-mail.

For solicitors interested in joining the LFYB scheme
https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/career-advice/individual-accreditations/lawyers-for-your-business

Does your business require legal support?

Birmingham FLAG can offer legal advice. The programme is operated by students at the University of Birmingham, working under the supervision of qualified legal professionals.

To access this service you should leave a message or e-mail the service, giving your contact details and enquiry, and a member of the FLAG team will attempt to contact you by telephone. The team will only make three attempts to contact you before they close the matter.

A decision will be made as to whether they can help and, if they can, then they will arrange an appointment.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Closing Date: Birmingham Flag support runs from the start of October to mid-December and from the end of January to the end of March each year.

Pre-booked appointments are held in The Exchange at the University of Birmingham (Broad Street) during Autumn and Spring term times only.  Online appointments are also available. 

Website: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/law/flag/index.aspx

Tel: 0121 415 8812

E-mail: birminghamflag@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Different grant and loan schemes are available ranging from £1,000 to £150,000, such as start-up loans, commercial loans, The Local Community and Enterprise Fund, Business Resilience and Growth Programme, The Financial Fit masterclasses for female entrepreneurs and the Duplex Investment Fund.  Repayment terms and amounts vary depending on the scheme accessed. Contact the provider to discuss your options for support.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: www.cwrt.uk.com

Tel: 02476 551 777

Online contact form: https://www.cwrt.uk.com/contact-us/

SMEs based in the West Midlands who conduct commercial operations within the centre of Birmingham could be eligible for financial incentives through Birmingham City Council, designed to offer support towards replacing their LGV (Light Goods Vehicle) and HDV (Heavy Duty Vehicle) to meet required emission standards. 

These include grants for eligible heavy goods vehicles and light goods vehicles towards the cost of retrofitting existing vehicles, purchasing and/or leasing compliant vehicles or exit/relocation costs.

Registered owners of Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicles, licensed by Birmingham City Council, who have owned their vehicles since before 2018 are also able to access support towards the costs of a clean vehicle retrofit accreditation scheme (CVRAS) approved Retrofit Solution, or towards the operating expenses of a Birmingham licensed electric or ULEV HC vehicle.

Eligibility: Businesses must have been trading for over 12 months and own or lease a qualifying vehicle that does not meet the Birmingham City area Clean Air Zone emission standards. They will need to be able to prove the frequency of travel into the Clean Air Zone (based on current operations) and the current emissions standard of the eligible, non-compliant vehicle.

Location: Businesses must be based in the West Midlands and carry out commercial operations within the centre of Birmingham.

E-mail: Financial incentives | Brum Breathes
Apply via the website.

Email: cleanair@birmingham.gov.uk 

Tel: 0121 464 7474.

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II offers commercially focussed finance through Small Business Loans, Debt Finance, Proof of Concept and Equity Finance funds. 

For more information on the types of loans available, go to the following links:

Small Business Loans - from £25,000 - £100,000
Website: Smaller Loans - British Business Bank (british-business-bank.co.uk)

Debt Finance - Business loans from £100,000 - £2 million
Website: Debt Finance - British Business Bank (british-business-bank.co.uk)

Equity Finance - Later stage equity finance up to £5 million
Website: Equity Finance - British Business Bank (british-business-bank.co.uk)

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading.
Website: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/nations-and-regions-investment-funds/midlands-engine-investment-fund-ii-meif-ii/

For all Contact Options visit: Online Contact Form

Is your business looking for a loan between £10,000 and £150,000?

ART is a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) which provides business loans to existing businesses and social enterprises in the West Midlands that are unable to receive their full funding requirements from their bank. 

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading.

Website: http://www.reinvest.co.uk/

Tel: 0121 359 2444

E-mail: art@artbusinessloans.co.uk

If you are looking for funding then Key Fund may be able to help.

Providing tailored grants and loans to support the development and growth of new and existing social enterprise activity in the North of England. Funding can be used to support revenue or capital costs, including bridging facilities, capital purchases, cashflow, refurbishment costs, running costs, set-up costs, and wages.

They also deliver bespoke workshops and one-to-one support.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading but you must be a registered/incorporated company providing positive social or environmental impact. The fund can not support sole traders or partnerships of individuals. Applicants must have already approached a commercial lender and been refused, prior to submitting a proposal.

Website: https://thekeyfund.co.uk/

Tel: 0330 202 0559

Email: info@thekeyfund.co.uk 

Medilink Midlands provides support to companies in the life sciences sector to help them form partnerships, secure grant funding, develop new products and services and share ideas.

Eligibility: Less than 250 employees and/or less than €50million annual turnover, are working in, or looking to work in, life sciences, have business premises located in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire or the South East Midlands or are thinking about moving into the area.

Tel: 0115 9932 361

Email: info@medilinkmidlands.com 

Website: https://www.medilinkmidlands.com/business-support-programme-overview/

BCRS offers business loans from £10,000 to £150,000 to businesses that are unable to access mainstream finance from sources such as banks. They also offer loans to businesses making a positive contribution to the social, environmental, or economic well-being within their area.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading. Lend to most market sectors including construction, engineering, IT services, manufacturing, service providers and wholesalers.

Website: https://bcrs.org.uk/

Tel: 0345 313 8410

E-mail: enquiries@bcrs.org.uk

Looking to add investment into your business?

The Regional Debt Fund provides loan/equity investment in amounts from £250K up to £2m towards growth capital, job creation, capital expenditure, product development, export development or marketing development.

Eligibility: Available to businesses trading over 24 months.

Website: https://www.frontierdevelopmentcapital.com/funding/regional-debt-fund/

Tel: 0345 319 4528

E-mail: info@frontierdevelopmentcapital.com

A programme offering businesses with high-growth potential up to £ 1 million of equity investment (50% of costs) towards projects that will help them scale up.  They provide guidance on business planning, and a viable business plan is required in order to apply for the scheme. 

To express interest, submit your business plan online or contact a member of the team for more information before applying.

Eligibility: Trading businesses with growth potential. 

Website: https://midven.co.uk/west-midlands-coinvestment-fund/

Email: enquiries@midven.com <enquiries@midven.com

Warwickshire County Council
Procurement portal for information on tendering with the county council.
http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/procurement

Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Information on procurement and current tender opportunities.
https://www.stratford.gov.uk/business-investment/procurement.cfm

Find it in CW
Shows public and private sector tender opportunities Coventry and Warwickshire suppliers can bid for, plus access to procurement workshops, business support events and Meet-the-Buyer events for major infrastructure projects.  Access to the portal is free, charges may apply for some services.
https://www.finditincw.co.uk/

Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire's Joint E-Tendering System (CSW-JETS)
Offers current tender opportunities for Coventry, Solihull, North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Rugby, Warwick and Stratford on Avon councils.
http://www.csw-jets.co.uk/

Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub
Organise business events, with a particular focus on the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) sector.
http://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk/events
Tel: 0300 060 3747

C & W Champions
A network of businesses and organisations passionate about promoting Coventry & Warwickshire. Offer meetings, events, and the opportunity to become a Champion.
https://www.coventry-warwickshire.co.uk/

Creative, Cultural and Tourism Network
A free network for organisations and freelancers in these sectors or businesses supplying them.
https://www.finditincw.co.uk/creative-cultural-and-tourism-network

Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce
Events are run by Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce. Charges may apply.
http://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/events/

IoD West Midlands
West Midlands Branch of the Institute of Directors offerings news, events and courses.
https://www.iod.com/events-community/regions/west-midlands

Federation of small businesses (FSB)
Events calendar from The Federation of small businesses.
https://www.fsb.org.uk/event-calendar.html

Stratford upon Avon BoB
Stratford upon Avon Business Over Breakfast networking club.
https://www.bobclubs.com/club/Stratford-upon-Avon

Shipston Jelly
Offers a co-working event every other Friday at Stour Enterprise Centre.
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shipston-jelly-tickets-4205934062

Medilink Midlands
Membership organisation. Offers specialist support to organisations in the bioscience and healthcare community. Membership services include commercial opportunities; networking events; access to a specialist healthcare information resource centre and web portal; training programme; regular newsletters.
https://www.medilinkmidlands.com/events/

Warwickshire County Council
Online directory of businesses centres throughout the local area.
http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/businesscentres

Invest in Coventry and Warwickshire
Property search tool available.
http://propertytoolkit.evolutive.co.uk/Default.aspx?siteid=17

Invest West Midlands
The Inward Investment team provide advice and information on locating a business to the West Midlands, including details of key business development sites, business centres and business parks, and a commercial property search facility.
https://investwm.co.uk/why-west-midlands/ 
Tel: 0121 202 5022
E-mail: invest@wmgrowth.com

Venture House Business Centre
Offers a professional and contemporary environment for flexible hot desking, office accommodation and meeting space and the Centre looks set to become a place for creativity, partnership working and excellence. This will be supported by business experts from the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub who will act as a single point of contact for information, advice and support to new and growing businesses.
http://venturehousestratford.co.uk/
Tel: 07583 100488
E-mail: info@venturehousestratford.co.uk